Bedstead



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES MESSENGER, OF XVARREN, OHIO.

BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 24,880, dated July 26, 1859.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, C. MESSENGER, of Warren, in the county of Trumbulland State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBedsteads; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and'exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexeddrawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is aside view; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the bedstead; Figs. 3, 4, and5,

are detached sections which will be referred to in descriptionhereafter.

Like letters denote like parts in the several views.

The nature of my invention relates to the method of connecting the railsto the posts, by which the bedstead may be folded up from the positionin Fig. l, to that in Fig. 2, and vice versa, without detaching therails from the posts, or removing the mattress, or clothes.

The head, and post A, and B, of the bedstead may be made in any of theusual forms, to which are attached side rails constructed each in twopieces, and united by a hinge joint C, Figs. l, and 2. At the end ofeach rail is secured the plate, or key D, Fig. 3, by means of the shankE, with screws, or pins, which pass through the rails into the shank. Inthe upper portipn of the plate is an oblong slot F, placed obllquely inthe plate. This slot receives the pin G, which passes through the postas indicated in Fig. 4, at G. Below the shank E, depends a lip H, Figs.3, and 5. The space between the lip, and the end I, of the rail receivesthe plate J, which is sunk into the post and secured by screws orotherwise. The space K, between the lip, and the end of the rail istapering at its intersection with the slot, which causes the posts, andrails, to be more firmly secured together, as the tendency is by thetapering form of the slot, and plate to become tighter by the railsbeing continually pressed down in the use of the bedstead, there beingallowed a little space above the plate, and below the lip, for thispurpose. The pin G, is also placed with this obj ect in view.

The pin G, in the slot eifectually holds the plate in place, and therebysecuring the rails, in the desired position. The tendency of the railsby the weight on the bed is to be depressed in the center, and draw theupper end of the plate D, out of the post, but this is eifectuallyprevented by the pin G. The

brace for the upper side of the rails as the end comes in contact.

lVhen it is desired to fold up the bedstead from the position seen inFig. 1, to that seen in Fig. 2, the rails are so raised that the lip H,will pass over the plate J. The oblong slot F, allows the plate to bethus raised, and by its angular position in the plate tends to force theplate out of the mortise L, in the post as the rails are raised, and atthe same time the pin, and slot, forms a joint, or hinge, upon which therails can be turned from a horizontal to a vertical position as seen inFigs. 2, and 5, without detaching the rails from the posts, and thebedstead may be changed with the same facility from Fig. 2, to Fig. l.

As soon as the lip passes over the outside of the plate the rails areconnected to the posts by the pins G, for the purpose before described.The mattress for this purpose should be divided in the center as seen atM, forming two sections N, N, Figs. 1, and 2, which sections may beconnected by straps O, O, or otherwise. This will allow the mattress tofold up and also to bed clothes with the bedstead. For all practicalpurposes the mattress in two sections will be as convenient as an entiremattress, when not folded up with the bedstead.

I am aware that jointed rails, and fastenings, adapted to such jointshave been known and used before, but what distinguishes my improvementfrom all others is, the mode of connecting the rails to the posts so asto form a joint and lock when connected, and a hinge joint by the pin,and slot, for the purpose of changing the bedstead from one position toanother as herein before described without detaching the rails from theposts, or removing the clothes, which renders it very convenient invarious ways.

What I claim as my improvement, and for which I desire to secure LettersPatent is,

The angular, and oblique slot F, and pin G, in combination with theplate or key D, when arranged in connection with the jointed railssubstantially as described, and for the purpose herein before set forth.

CHARLES MESSENGER.

Witnesses D. D. HoPrER, GEO. F. BROWN.

